You don't have to spend a ton of money to have a mouthful of beautiful, healthy teeth and a stunning smile -- these 11 tips prove it

Floss Why all the hoopla about flossing? The ADA says that it "helps to remove plaque and food particles from between teeth and under the gum line where toothbrush bristles can't reach." There's also a ton of research suggesting that flossing can help to protect your heart and arteries by helping to keep the bacteria in your mouth from entering your bloodstream.

Not sure exactly how to floss correctly? The ADA says to "use about 18 inches of floss wound around one of your middle fingers, with the rest wound around the opposite middle finger" and to "hold the floss tightly between the thumbs and forefingers and gently insert it between the teeth." Dr. Smigel adds that it's important to "wrap the floss around each tooth in a 'C' shape and gently slide it under the gum line to the tip of the tooth."

I have dozens of floss packs scattered around the house! I'm actually going to dental school this fall. My roommates probably hate me because I'm constantly bugging them with facts about oral health and flossing!

Being someone who had very bad teeth due to drinking soda, not having the funds to go to the dentist, and after having my braces turn my teeth yellow, I know how important your smile and teeth are to the outside world. People often look at your smile first and that usually means seeing your teeth, and they base a lot on how your teeth look. These tips are all wonderful but the best one is to go to the dentist regularly. It took 7 hours straight, in a dentist chair, having my 6 front teeth ground down to spikes, and then getting fitted for my temporary crowns. This took $12000 to fix and when all was said and done, it took 16 hours of fear, pain, and tears just to get my 6 front teeth looking presentable. Go to the dentist!